BIOS Update Questions

[pop pop]

I've been chasing some issues with my new Linux build and it came down to a BIOS update and/or a kernel bug. I updated the BIOS and the problem remains so I submitted a bug report and have received one response/request so far.

Here's the BIOS update questions, keep in mind that this was the first time I ever did one. The BIOS (AMI) that was on the Asus P5LD2-VM mobo when it arrived was version 301 with a release date of 10/12/2005. The only available update was version 406 with a "date" shown on the Asus site of 11/21/2005. The update was "add support for additional CPUs".

I did the update and all appeared to go fine. But there's a puzzler or two. The BIOS now shows the new version number--406--but the release date is still the original 10/12/2005. Secondly, all my settings remained, were retained, after the burn.

The questions:

Is it normal or unusual for the BIOS date to stay the same after a flash update?

Is it normal or unusual for non-default settings to remain after a flash update?

Do I need to do something like remove/replace the CMOS battery after the flash update?

Thanks

[saphalline]

BIOS updates usually change the default values and load them automatically, rendering the CMOS data useless and/or ignored. However, a very minor BIOS update which doesn't change any of the menu options may have problems with left over CMOS data. You could try resetting the CMOS or force updating the ECSD within the BIOS menu. The brute force method is the one you mentioned - unplugging the computer and removing the mobo battery for about 10 minutes.

My preferred method of clearing the CMOS is using the jumper on the mobo.

[pop pop]

Thanks Saph.

The mobo manual says to use the CMOS jumper, you have to remove the battery anyway. That would seem redundant, since removing the battery does the same thing--unless the jumper just does it faster, no need to wait several minutes?

Whatever, obviously some of the old data has been retained after the flash, so I'm going to do it anyway.

Thanks again.